After He Became My Brother-in-Law Chapter 01
Leanna’s POV
No one knew A-list box-office queen Estrella Rowlett was my biological older sister.
So when she publicly announced her engagement to Christopher Prestley — heir to the powerful Prestley family — my best friend was the only person who texted to congratulate me.
“Estrella’s your sister, and Christopher’s the biggest power player in the entertainment industry. You’re definitely about to blow up,” she said.
She had no idea that within five minutes of their engagement announcement, every single one of my acting roles and brand endorsements got canceled.
Trashy smear articles flooded the internet, and my talent agency sent over an official termination letter.
All of this happened for one simple reason: I looked exactly like Estrella.
For nine years, that face let me be her replacement in Christopher’s life.
Now that the woman he’d always loved was back and ready to marry him, my time as a substitute was over.
Christopher showed up at my place that night just like he always did.
He spotted my packed suitcase and frowned.
“You have another sh00t? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I kept my head down and knelt to help him take off his shoes.
“I didn’t want your fiancée upset.”
He paused and let out a cold laugh.
“Where’s this petty attitude coming from?”
I didn’t answer. I quietly slipped his house slippers on for him.
Christopher’s tone dropped, turning sharp and serious.
“Stand up. Look at me.”
I obeyed, meeting his eyes directly.
He was devastatingly handsome, with sharp, striking features.
But he almost never looked at me with any warmth.
He stared at me coldly, then tapped my cheek twice with his fingers.
“How many times do I have to explain this to you?
“All those cheap romance movies have rotted your brain.
“There’s no ‘rich guy falling for the substitute girl’ trope here. Never has been, never will be.
“Essie’s the one who saved my life. You could never hold a candle to her.
“Now that you know I’m marrying her soon, your only job is to give me a reason to keep you around. “Don’t throw little tantrums. Do you understand?”
I’d understood all of this nine years ago.
We first met at a charity gala where he was the main sponsor.
The second I laid eyes on him, I did everything I could to get his number.
He’d barely glanced at me back then.
It took me years to realize that quick look was nothing but disdain — for a girl way beneath him, desperate for his attention.
Even so, Christopher never turned down my foolish, desperate advances. Eventually, one drunken night, he let me stay over.
I clung to him, giddy and oblivious, letting him do whatever he wanted.
But late that night, breathless and sweat-slicked, he stared at me with unfocused eyes and whispered a name right against my ear.
“Estrella.”
I’d known the truth about me ever since.
I was just her stand-in.
Young and foolish, I’d refused to accept it back then.
Not anymore.
I brushed at my stinging cheek and said softly, “I understand.”
Christopher lost his patience instantly.
He brushed past me and headed for the dining table, his face completely blank.
“If you hide your schedule from me again, I’ll end your acting career for good.
You’ll stay home and work as my full-time maid.”
The public still had no clue my agency had dropped me.
Christopher had no idea I had zero jobs left.
And I had absolutely no plans to tell him.
I just nodded. “Okay.”
My meek answer only seemed to irritate him more.
“Come eat. Don’t whine to me later about a stomachache.”
The dining room fell quiet, save for the clink of silverware against plates.
Five minutes in, he pushed a small plate of peeled shrimp toward me.
I looked up in pure surprise.
His expression stayed completely unreadable as he slowly wiped the new engagement ring on his finger.
When I didn’t move, he glanced up.
“Eat,” he said flatly.
I picked up a shrimp and chewed slowly.
I could taste the food, but all I felt was a hollow, aching emptiness in my chest.
He’d always done these small, intimate little things before.
So often that I’d fooled myself into thinking we were real lovers — that he’d moved on from Estrella.
But the truth was right in front of me.
He’d peeled shrimp for me, then carefully wiped every speck of grease off his engagement ring.
I finally got it.
He did those sweet little gestures only because he felt like it.
They never meant anything. Not one bit.
I’d just been foolish enough to believe he cared about me.
